Passenger-counting device.



M. H. GRAMPTON.

PASSENGER COUNTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.23, 1912.

Patented June 10, 1913.

WITNESSES ATTORNEYS COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH c0, WASHINGTON. D. c.

MAX H. CHAMPION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PASSENGER-COUNTING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 19,1913.

Application filed February 23, 1912. Serial No. 679,232.

To (4% whom 2'73 may concern:

Be it known that I, Max H. CRAMPTON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Passenger-Counting Device, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact de scription.

This invention relates to improvements in counting devices, and particularly to an improved structure which will permit ready entrance and exit and count only the persons entering.

The object in view is to provide a count-- ing device for street cars, theaters and the like, which will permit the ready entrance and exit of persons in a continuous stream but counting only the persons entering.

A. further object of the invention is to provide a counting device designed to take the place of the ordinary turnstile now in use, and other similar devices, the same comprising a twisted or convolute bar which will be turned one revolution for each person passing through the device, whereby a registcr connected to the bar will be moved correspondingly.

In carrying out the objects of the invention the same may be utilized in pay-as-youenter cars, theaters, or any other place where it is desired to count the passengers or persons. In constructing the device, a rotating bar given substantially a single turn or twist, is used for operating an ordinary register associated therewith. A clutch mechanism is arranged between the bar and the register which will allow the bar to turn in one direction without operating the registcr but when turned in the other way will operate the register in the usual manner, whereby persons entering the car or other place, will operate the register, but persons passing out will not move the register. The adaptability of the device for permitting persons to use the device as an entrance and as an exit is of advantage in that in case of fire or disorder the entrance point may become an exit point without any change whatever.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the device shown on a car, the car being shown in section; Fig. 2 is a section through Fig. 1 approximately on the line 22; Fig. 3 is an enlarged rear plan view of the clutch and connecting mechanism between the register and the counting bar; and Fig. 4 is a section through Fig. 3 on the line 44.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals, 1 indicates a car of any desired kind having a rear platform 2 which is divided into the conductors space 3 and the passenger space 4 by a suitable railing 5. Passengers entering the space 4 will engage the counting bar 6 and move the same as the passengers move toward the interior of the car 1, as shown by the arrow. The counting bar 6 is pivoted in suitable posts 7 and 8. The bar 6 extends entirely through the post 8 and has rigidly secured thereto a connecting clutch 9 which is adapted to connect the bar 6 with the register 10 through a rod 11. The clutch 9 is designed to rotate in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 3, but may be stopped in its rotation by having the rod 12 forced upward and into engagement with the shoulder 13. The rod 12 is held in its proper place by suitable guides 14: and is operated by a lever 15 pivotally mounted on the bottom of the car and having a spring-pressed foot member 16 projecting to a point convenient to the conductor, whereby the conductor may at any time depress the foot member and cause the rod or bar 12 to engage the shoulder 13 and thus stop the rotation of the counting bar 6. This will also stop the passengers from entering the car.

The clutch 9 is formed on its inner face with an annular groove 17 in which a pin 18 moves. The pin 18 is carried by the rod '11 and is normally held against the outer wall of the groove 17 until positively forced therefrom by a pivotally mounted catch 19. lVhen the pin 18 strikes the catch 19 the same is depressed or moved downward toward the bar 6 and in its movement enters a notch 20 and finally passes out notch 20 past the lower end of the catch 19. The catch 19 is pivotally mounted on a pin 21 and is held normally in the position shown in Fig. 8, by a spring :22. By this construction and arrangement when the clutch 9 is moved in the direction shown in Fig. 8, the rod 11 will be moved downward once for each revolution of the clutch, but when the clutch is moved in an opposite direction the pin 18 will merely snap by the catch it moving pivotally the catch out of the way.

By the construction and arrangement of the bar 6 and the arrangement of the clutch 9 and associated devices, passengers may freely enter through the entrance door 23 and again pass out entrance door 23 or through a door 24: as desired, the device only registering when the passengers are moving into the car. lln case the passengers are moving too fast for the conductor to properly collect the fares, he may stop the movement of the counting bar 6 by merely pressing downward the member 16. In this way the conductor has control over the counting bar and yet the counting bar may be freely used for counting or simply used as an exit passage.

Having thus described my invention, l claim as no and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a device of the clniracte: described, a spirally wound counting bar adapted to be turned by a person passing longitudinally thereof.

In a device of the character described, a spirally wound counting bar formed substantially with one convolution whereby a person passing longitudinally thereof will turn the same one revolution, and a supporting bar for each end of said spirally wound bar for holding said spirally wound counting bar in position.

3. In a derice of the character described, the combination with. a housing and a rail arranged therein for defining an entrance passageway, of a twisted bar extending longitudinally of said passageway, said twisted bar being formed with substantially a single convolution, said. rail being arranged adjacent said convolution whereby a person passing from one end to the other thereof in said passageway will turn the bar for a single revolution.

l. In a device of the character described, the combination with a housing and a rail arranged therein for defining an entrance passageway, of a twisted bar extending 1ongitudinally of said passageway, said twisted bar being formed with substantially one convolution and substantially occupying the full width of said passageway whereby a person passing through said passageway will strike against said bar and turn the same one revolution.

In a device of the character described, a twisted counting bar formed with a single convolution merging into end journals, and means for rotatably supporting said journals whereby a person may pass in either direction longitudinally of said bar and rotate the bar a single revolution upon the travel from one end to the other thereof regardless of the direction of movement.

(3. in a device of the character described, the combination with a housing and a rail arranged therein for defining an entrance passageway, of a post arranged near each end of said passageway and. substantially centrally thereof, and a counting bar pivotally mounted in said posts, said counting bar be ing twisted so as to form slightly more than one convolution, said convolution being of such size as to substantially fill transversely and longitudinally said passageway so that upon. the passage of a person through said passageway said bar will be rotated only one revolution.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MAX H. lRAMPTON.

Witnesses A. L. Krrenm, Prrlmr D. RoLLHAUs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

